The Azerbaijani delegation has officially announced that it is suspending its cooperation with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

As reported by the European Pravda editor from Strasbourg, before the PACE meeting, where the assembly was to consider a decision on the credentials of Azerbaijani members, representatives of the Azerbaijani delegation made a statement to the press that they were no longer interested in working in PACE under the current conditions.

"The Azerbaijani delegation decides to cease its engagement with and presence at the PACE until further notice," said Samad Seyidov, the head of the Azerbaijani delegation.

Answering European Pravda's question about whether Azerbaijan remains a Council of Europe member, Seyidov refrained from making any specific statement. Although he did not rule out any options: "This [the possibility of Azerbaijan's exit from the Council of Europe – EP] is not our responsibility, but for time being, for the delegation, it is really impossible to be here because of this unacceptable approach to my country."

He warned, however, that after the planned consideration of the decision on sanctions against Azerbaijan in PACE, there will be further consequences for the organisation: "The decision will be a serious blow to the credibility and impartiality of the Council of Europe as a whole, and the responsibility for its grave and irreversible consequences will entirely lie with its initiators [of sanctions against the Azerbaijani delegation]."

Seyidov stated that he considers the initiative to challenge the powers of the Azerbaijani delegation "part of this malicious campaign" against his country, accusing Western countries of interfering in Azerbaijani elections and of "corruption," without specifying, however, the details of these allegations.

As reported, PACE has preliminarily agreed on a tough decision regarding Azerbaijan.

Read more - Why Azerbaijan could be suspended from Council of Europe and what the country doing in response.